If you are in immediate danger, call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room.
For mental health crisis support, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) anytime.

Mental Health Crisis Resources

Immediate help is available. You are not alone. These crisis resources provide 24/7 support for mental health emergencies, suicidal thoughts, and emotional distress.

National Crisis Helplines - Available 24/7

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

Call or Text: 988

Free, confidential support for people in distress and crisis. Available 24/7 throughout the United States.

Also available: Chat online at 988lifeline.org/chat

Crisis Text Line

Text: HOME to 741741

Free, 24/7 text support for those in crisis. Text from anywhere in the US to connect with a trained crisis counselor.

Emergency Services

Call: 911

For immediate life-threatening emergencies, always call 911 or go to your nearest emergency department.

Recognizing a Mental Health Crisis

Immediate Warning Signs Requiring Emergency Help

  • Threats or plans to hurt oneself or others
  • Looking for ways to kill oneself (searching for methods, acquiring means)
  • Talking or writing about death, dying, or suicide
  • Extreme hopelessness or feeling trapped
  • Rage, uncontrolled anger, or seeking revenge
  • Acting recklessly or engaging in risky activities
  • Dramatic changes in mood
  • Seeing or hearing things that aren't there
  • Extreme paranoia or fear
  • Inability to care for oneself

Other Crisis Indicators

  • Withdrawing from friends, family, and activities
  • Anxiety, agitation, or inability to sleep
  • Dramatic mood changes or feeling overwhelmed
  • Feeling like a burden to others
  • Increased alcohol or drug use
  • Giving away prized possessions
  • Saying goodbye to loved ones
  • Putting affairs in order, making a will

Specialized Crisis Resources

Veterans Crisis Line

Call: 988, Press 1

Text: 838255

Chat: VeteransCrisisLine.net

Confidential support for Veterans, service members, National Guard, Reserve, and their families.

LGBTQ+ National Hotline

Call: 1-888-843-4564

Provides peer support, information, and resources for LGBTQ+ individuals.

Hours: Monday-Friday 1pm-9pm PST, Saturday 9am-2pm PST

Trevor Project (LGBTQ+ Youth)

Call: 1-866-488-7386

Text: START to 678-678

Chat: TheTrevorProject.org

24/7 crisis support for LGBTQ+ young people under 25.

SAMHSA National Helpline

Call: 1-800-662-4357

Treatment referral and information service for substance use and mental health disorders. Available 24/7 in English and Spanish.

National Domestic Violence Hotline

Call: 1-800-799-7233

Text: START to 88788

24/7 support for those experiencing domestic violence. Highly trained advocates provide support and resources.

RAINN Sexual Assault Hotline

Call: 1-800-656-4673

Chat: online.rainn.org

24/7 support for survivors of sexual assault. Connects callers with local support providers.

National Eating Disorders Hotline

Call: 1-800-931-2237

Text: NEDA to 741741

Chat: nationaleatingdisorders.org

Support for individuals and families affected by eating disorders.

Postpartum Support International

Call: 1-800-944-4773

Text: 503-894-9453 (English) or 971-420-0294 (Spanish)

Support for pregnant and postpartum individuals experiencing mental health challenges.

Teen Line

Call: 1-310-855-4673

Text: TEEN to 839863

Teen-to-teen support for adolescents. Available 6pm-10pm PST daily.

Elder Abuse Hotline

Call: 1-800-677-1116

Support and resources for older adults experiencing abuse, neglect, or exploitation.

Trans Lifeline

US: 877-565-8860

Canada: 877-330-6366

Peer support for transgender individuals in crisis, staffed by trans people.

Disaster Distress Helpline

Call: 1-800-985-5990

Text: TalkWithUs to 66746

Crisis counseling for those affected by natural or human-caused disasters.

Online Crisis Support Resources

Crisis Chat Services

Mental Health Apps for Crisis Support

  • MY3: Create a safety plan and identify 3 contacts for support
  • notOK: Alert trusted contacts when you need support
  • Virtual Hope Box: Coping tools and positive distractions
  • Safety Plan: Create and store a personalized safety plan
  • Calm Harm: Managing urges to self-harm

How to Help Someone in Crisis

Immediate Steps

  1. Stay Calm: Your composed presence can be reassuring
  2. Listen Without Judgment: Let them express their feelings
  3. Take It Seriously: All threats or mentions of suicide should be taken seriously
  4. Don't Leave Them Alone: Stay with the person or ensure someone else is there
  5. Remove Means: If possible, remove any weapons, medications, or other means of self-harm
  6. Get Help: Call 988 or emergency services if needed

What to Say

  • "I'm here for you"
  • "You matter to me"
  • "I may not understand exactly how you feel, but I care and want to help"
  • "You are not alone in this"
  • "Let's get through this together"
  • "Help is available"

What NOT to Say

  • "Just snap out of it"
  • "You have so much to live for"
  • "Think about how this would hurt your family"
  • "You're being selfish"
  • "Things could be worse"
  • "Just think positive"

Creating a Safety Plan

A safety plan is a prioritized written list of coping strategies and sources of support to use during or before a crisis.

Safety Plan Components

  1. Warning Signs: Identify thoughts, images, moods, situations, or behaviors that signal a crisis may be developing
  2. Internal Coping Strategies: Things you can do to take your mind off problems without contacting others
  3. Social Contacts and Settings: People and places that provide distraction
  4. Family/Friends to Ask for Help: People who can provide support during a crisis
  5. Professional Contacts: Mental health professionals and crisis services
  6. Making Environment Safe: Ways to remove or limit access to means of self-harm
  7. Reasons for Living: Your most important reasons to stay alive

Download Safety Plan Templates

  • Suicide Prevention Resource Center Safety Planning Guide
  • Stanley-Brown Safety Planning Intervention
  • MY3 App for creating digital safety plans

After a Crisis: Recovery and Support

Immediate Aftercare

  • Follow-Up Care: Schedule appointments with mental health professionals
  • Medication Management: If prescribed, take medications as directed
  • Safety Planning: Create or update your crisis safety plan
  • Support System: Stay connected with trusted friends and family
  • Self-Care: Focus on basic needs - sleep, nutrition, hygiene

Ongoing Support Options

  • Individual Therapy: Regular sessions with a mental health professional
  • Group Therapy: Connect with others experiencing similar challenges
  • Support Groups: Peer-led groups for ongoing support
  • Intensive Outpatient Programs: Structured treatment while living at home
  • Partial Hospitalization: Day treatment programs
  • Case Management: Coordination of services and resources

Building Resilience

  • Develop healthy coping strategies
  • Build and maintain supportive relationships
  • Practice stress management techniques
  • Engage in meaningful activities
  • Maintain physical health through exercise and nutrition
  • Establish routine and structure
  • Set realistic goals and celebrate progress

International Crisis Resources

Global Crisis Lines

Select International Hotlines

  • UK: Samaritans - 116 123
  • Canada: Talk Suicide Canada - 1-833-456-4566
  • Australia: Lifeline - 13 11 14
  • India: AASRA - +91 98204 66726
  • Japan: TELL Lifeline - 03-5774-0992
  • Mexico: SAPTEL - 55-5259-8121
  • Brazil: CVV - 188
  • Germany: Telefonseelsorge - 0800-111-0-111
  • France: Suicide Écoute - 01 45 39 40 00

Additional Resources and Information

Educational Resources

Training and Education

  • QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer): Gatekeeper training for suicide prevention
  • Mental Health First Aid: Learn to assist someone experiencing a mental health crisis
  • ASIST: Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training
  • safeTALK: Suicide alertness training

Remember: Help is Always Available

No matter what you're going through, you deserve support. Reaching out for help is a sign of strength, not weakness. Crisis support services are staffed by caring professionals who want to help.

988 - Call or Text Anytime

Your life matters. You matter. There is hope, and help is available.

Take Action for Your Mental Health

Whether you're in crisis or supporting someone who is, remember that help is available 24/7.

Call 988 Now Find Ongoing Support